TOKYO2025: Agnes Ngetich opens up on 10,000m heartbreak
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 16.09.25. | 00:49
The 24-year-old led for much of the race only to miss out on a podium finish
Kenyan athlete Agnes Jebet Ngetich has come out to describe her devastating loss in the 10,000m race at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championship Tokyo 2025.
Ngetich was one of Kenya’s representatives alongside Beatrice Chebet in the star-studded 10,000m that took place on Saturday 13 September - the first day of the championship.
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While the 24-year-old and Kenyans at large tipped her to at least a podium finish, it was not meant to be as she finished fourth after clocking 30:42.66.
Ngetich took to her social media after the race to register her disappointment.
“This one is going to hurt for some time. 4th place over 10,000m at #WorldAthleticsChamps while I know that the medal was a possibility.
Congratulations to medalists and to everyone who worked hard in challenging weather conditions,” she posted.
The race was won by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet who bagged her first gold medal in a world championship following two Olympic gold medals.
Italy's Nadia Batocletti won the silver medal as was the case in last year's Olympic in a national record of 30:38.23.
Defending champion Gudaf Tsegay completed the medal places, finishing third in 30:39.65 ahead of Ngetich.
Heading into the race, Ngetich who holds the world record for 10km on the roads was also the second ranked this season with a season best of 30:27.38 with compatriot Janeth Chepngetich leading at 30:27.02.
Gudaf Tsegay Desta, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Nadia Battocletti, and Beatrice Chebet have turned the women's 10,000m into a chess match.
— Ifeanyi UDDIN (@IfeanyiUddin) September 13, 2025
In the Saturday night race, Chebet and Ngetich led the pack from the front early in the race in front of a packed stadium before Ririki Rironaka who in the end finished sixth took charge.
With three laps remaining, Tsegay took to the front to lead the leading pack. The pace increased at the bell as the race continued to take shape.
With half a lap remaining, Chebet overtook Tsegay and unleashed her best in the last bend and into the last 100 meters to be the first to cross the line and win her first world title.
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